AZ-EQ6 or Vixen SXP

[JimsShed (Jim)]

I really like taking pictures of what I see (or can't see) with my ED80 and EQ5 Pro mount. I'm considering upgrading the mount with the hope I can reliably get 90~120 second exposures without autoguiding.
It's also inevitable that I will buy a bigger scope subject to board of management approval so hey, gotta go bigger.

I want accurate alignment and tracking in a portable mount. My eyes are on a Vixen SXP with Starbook 10, or a Skywatcher AZ-EQ6.

Has anyone had experience with both mounts, including some astrophotography, who would care to proffer an opinion on which one they would buy or recommend?

Jim

[billdan (Bill)]

Hi Jim,

I can't comment on The Vixen or AZ-EQ6 mounts as I have never owned them.

If you want 2 mins of unguided exposure then you must have a very accurate Polar Alignment and drift aligning is the best method of achieving this.

Secondly most of the low end mounts use a worm drive and gear which have Periodic Errors ( it comes with the territory). So you will need to initiate PEC training on your mount, should be described in your EQ5 manual. But you will need to buy an illuminated reticule eyepiece for this.

However once you do get serious it won't be long before you end up buying a guide camera and a guidescope or OAG. Then you can take 15 min subs easily.

Regards
Bill

[LewisM]

SXP 100%! It's almost up there with AP mounts in terms of accuracy, tracking and build quality. I cannot speak highly enough of Vixen mounts - I still use a Vixen GPD2 with my Takahashi FSQ. In fact, and SXP is the next mount I will buy... eventually. It is a fair few dollars... but will reward it's owner for MANY years to come.

I have owned Vixen SXD's and SXW's - the SXP's forerunners. Their only downfall is the OLD Vixen Starbook - it is PERFECT for visual, but CAN be problematic for imaging. The SXP's Starbook TEN fixes ALL the old issues.

I have owned also an AZ-EQ6. Whilst versatile (to a point), I was not overly enthused by it. I got far superior "out of the box" tracking with the Vixen GPD2. I also was not particularly thrilled by the quality of manufacture either - left a lot to be desired - soft, easily chipped paint, cheap easily rusting cover screws and other parts that should of/could have been stainless. I ended up spending a fair bit replacing all the el-cheapo screws with stainless versions, as well as washers and other parts. Out of the box, it needs simple work. Tracking was OK, but nothing spectacular. It is certainly a step UP from the HEQ5 and the NEQ6.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Hi Jim,

From my experience (I have both HEQ5 and AZ-EQ6) you won't be able to reliably take 90-120s unguided exposures with AZ-EQ6. But you would be able to reliably take longer guided exposures with ED80 on both mounts. AZ-EQ6 is substantially heavier than HEQ5 and feels tougher, however, as Lewis has already mentioned, tracking with AZEQ6 is not overwhelmingly better than that with HEQ5.

Lewis- thank you for sharing your experience with Vixen mounts.

[LewisM]

Slav,

Not saying the GPD2 is perfect, but it does impress still for a 30 something year old design - might be even older! The older GP and GPDX were the standard at one point in time, and still hold their own. Vixen's decision to drop manufacture of the GP series after SO many years I feel was a bad decision. I do know several well respected imagers who use it as their travel mount with up to an FSQ-106 as I do. I wouldn't push it past an FSQ...

The Sphinx range adds more weight capability (and Vixen's quoted weight limit is a PHOTOGRAPHIC limit, not visual - I had this confirmed by a Vixen rep in Japan) and the Starbook is VERY intuitive to use - a stellarium-like system as the hand held controller. The Starbook TEN adds versatility and corrects the motor drive firmware of the old Starbook that frustrated imagers with the OCCASIONAL Dec spike (easily work-aroundable, but Vixen fixed it with the old Starbook's latest 2014 firmware anyway).

I have always wanted an SXP, almost bought one twice. Jut never can let go of the GPD2 still when it performs so flawlessly. My record is 37 minutes unguided for VISUAL - I am sure there would have been enough movement to ruin an imaging sub, but the target stayed on the reticle crosshair for 37 minutes without me touching it, and NOT guided.

[JimsShed (Jim)]

Thanks Lewis and Slawomir. I'm assuming either are better than my EQ5 (not HEQ5)
Lewis, the Vixen, although more expensive, has a lower rated load capacity than the EQ6 (16 vs 20kg). Was that material in your experience?
BTW...just noticed all the Vixen mount prices have been removed from Astroshop's website today! They were there last night. Oh dear...usually means price/availability sadness.

[JimsShed (Jim)]

Originally Posted by billdan

Hi Jim,

I can't comment on The Vixen or AZ-EQ6 mounts as I have never owned them.

If you want 2 mins of unguided exposure then you must have a very accurate Polar Alignment and drift aligning is the best method of achieving this.

Secondly most of the low end mounts use a worm drive and gear which have Periodic Errors ( it comes with the territory). So you will need to initiate PEC training on your mount, should be described in your EQ5 manual. But you will need to buy an illuminated reticule eyepiece for this.

However once you do get serious it won't be long before you end up buying a guide camera and a guidescope or OAG. Then you can take 15 min subs easily.

Regards
Bill

Bill, Yes I know I'm pushing back on the inevitable for some occassions, but I'm hoping to get more than the current 30 second shots without dragging out the computer, table, extra wires etc. I find more inner peace out there in the yard if I don't have to click around Windows.

[raymo]

You get what you pay for, generally; the SXP is a lot more expensive
than the Az-EQ6.
Incidentally, the only Vixen product I have owned [about 30 yrs ago ]
was the worst mount I have ever owned. I got my wife to bring me a new
Super Polaris back from the U.K. It had a severe tight spot in R.A. Had to
leave a HUGE amount of backlash to eliminate it, and the clutches would
lock up, so I had to dismantle them to free them off. I imagine things have improved since then.
Your polar alignment must be waaay off if you are limited to around 30secs with your ED 80.
You should get at least 100-120 secs with reasonable P.A.
raymo

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by JimsShed

Thanks Lewis and Slawomir. I'm assuming either are better than my EQ5 (not HEQ5)
Lewis, the Vixen, although more expensive, has a lower rated load capacity than the EQ6 (16 vs 20kg). Was that material in your experience?
BTW...just noticed all the Vixen mount prices have been removed from Astroshop's website today! They were there last night. Oh dear...usually means price/availability sadness.

Yes, lower rated, but MUCH higher precision. 16kg is also CONSERVATIVE - it is the IMAGING weight, vs SW's ALL UP weight.

My rig sits at 9kg - FSQ-106, CCD, guidescope, finder, dewstraps, rings. The GPD2, rated to 10kg, handles it impeccibly. The SXP will do even better.

[Peter.M]

Asking Lewis if you want a vixen or a skywatcher mount, is like asking Peter Ward if you should buy a Lamboghini or a Ferrari.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Originally Posted by Peter.M

Asking Lewis if you want a vixen or a skywatcher mount, is like asking Peter Ward if you should buy a Lamboghini or a Ferrari.

LOL


But more seriously, Lewis admits he has used both brands so his bias is most likely grounded in a direct personal experience.

[PlanetMan]

Need to keep in mind there are two versions of the old Vixen Sphinx - The SXW (basic model) and the SXD (deluxe). I had a 2nd hand SXW and there were many good points but also some bad. I took the gamble and invested in a brand new SXD and was blown away at what an improvement - no regrets the SXD is the one to get - NOT the SXW. The after market support from Vixen is also impressive - even though discontinued they continue to provide software upgrades for both models with the latest version a few weeks ago.

[GrampianStars (Rob)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Slav,

Not saying the GPD2 is perfect, but it does impress still for a 30 something year old design - might be even older! The older GP and GPDX were the standard at one point in time, and still hold their own......

My portable Vixen GPDX has PE measured at < 7 arcsec and carries the Orion ED80 refractor
Still a great grab N' go scope package

[rrussell1962]

Hi Jim, I've owned both, you already know which one I still have! The SXP is relatively portable as well, can be carried easily as one unit including counterweights and tripod. The design places the motors etc below the centre of gravity of the RA axis which reduces the weight needed to balance the OTA. If you want to come over for a good look at the SXP and Starbook Ten just SMS me to set up a time.

If you do order the SXP just be aware that (I believe) it does not come with a dovetail mounting block so you will need to order one of those as well, but check with the vendor first!

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Regards the AZEQ6.

If you look at one of them, look at the Orion equivalent (Atlas Pro AZEQ-G) Painted black and generally several hundred dollars cheaper. I am very happy with my Orion, though AP is not my thing (So far) I remounted my CPC925 Celestron on it through frustration with the AltAz mount. Not through any issue with the mount itself, just that you can not point it manually without wrecking the electronic alignment.

They are a decent step forward from the EQ6 series IMO. A better design overall with easier to use clutches but the biggest improvement is the altitude jackscrew arrangement. I would regard the EQ6 setup as pretty poor, where the AZEQ6 is simple and easy to use and far more effective.

The AZEQ6 and Orion equivalent with dual encoders allow for releasing the clutches and slewing manually in either AltAz or EQ mode without undoing the alignment, so a vast step forward from the CPC mount for visual use.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by PlanetMan

Need to keep in mind there are two versions of the old Vixen Sphinx - The SXW (basic model) and the SXD (deluxe). I had a 2nd hand SXW and there were many good points but also some bad. I took the gamble and invested in a brand new SXD and was blown away at what an improvement - no regrets the SXD is the one to get - NOT the SXW. The after market support from Vixen is also impressive - even though discontinued they continue to provide software upgrades for both models with the latest version a few weeks ago.

All true, but the SXP is the mount in question is even FURTHER refined than the SXD - the SXP is truly up there as a top notch mount.

The SXP represents THE PINNACLE of the Sphinx lineage. Wonder if there will one day be an SXP2

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Peter.M

Asking Lewis if you want a vixen or a skywatcher mount, is like asking Peter Ward if you should buy a Lamboghini or a Ferrari.

True.

But after having had a succession of unimpressive Skywatcher mounts, and almost 100% trouble-free and wonderful performance form my Vixen's, I know - through experience - which to recommend. Once bitten, twice shy.

It is like comparing an Orion UK mirror to a GSO mirror - both work, one just is a LOT better.

[Larryp (Laurie)]

What Lewis said! Love my GPD2 with Synscan Go-To. It tracks beautifully and never causes problems.

[JimsShed (Jim)]

I must have kicked someone's dog. Rang yesterday for a price on the Vixen and it's now several hundred more than it was advertised for last week! I was on the limit before, but unfortunately this now goes well past my budget, so I'll lay low for a while, or save the $2500 premium and get the AZ-EQ6 GT. I know the Vixen is top shelf having seen Richard's first hand, backed up by the passion of other owners. I think I need to see an AZ-EQ6 in the flesh.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

That's truly disappointing Jim, I was looking forward to reading your review of Vixen's mount

Some are predicting that AUD will slide to 0.67 USD by the end of March 2016, so it might not be the best time (money wise) to invest in new equipment.